Help Identify Mark

[bethanne1130]

I'm trying to identify this bowl I picked up at an estate sale. The closest I could come is calling it an antique Asian fruit bowl. To be honest, I can't even tell if it's brass or bronze. Any help or insight is appreciated!

[ghopper1924]

What makes you think its Asian? The dragons? We need photos of the underside.

To me it looks more like European or Northeastern US Aesthetic Movement, ca. 1880-1910. It could be worth a penny or two....have you found anything else similar?

[bethanne1130]

There is nothing on the underside (I will try to post a pic asap, I'm not at home) there are no markings, numbers, stickers, etchings, anything to identify it. The only reason why I thought it was Asian is because when I did a generic web search the closest I could come to finding anything similar was this.... it's listed on eBay as "Asian fruit bowl". (has similar claw feet and shape)

[rink28]

I saw this on ebay too and it does look similar in shape. Since yours doesn't have any markings on it seems odd. I usually stay away from items that don't have any markings or names cause there too hard to identify if I'm not sure what I'm buying. I think retail would be around 200 tops.

[ghopper1924]

You're bowl seems to be of higher quality.

[bethanne1130]

I found it! But still not satisfied about the identification. I contacted the shop owner (who sold the bowl and no longer has it) and she also couldn't make out the entire mark on the bottom. (Mine doesn't have the mark, but is identical to the one she had) Can anyone make out the marking? I can see "Adams" and "Made in Italy" but cannot read the second line. She couldn't either...

Thanks for your help! Honestly, just trying to satisfy a curiosity. Age and maker...

[KC]

First of all, very interesting piece.  What are the dimensions?

Are my eyes deceiving or does the middle lettering look cyrillic/Russian on the marks?  Anyhow, the picture of the bowl with the signature is made totally different than yours and is 7" x 7" x 14". 

Is yours brass or bronze and/or copper or appear metal?  I have seen some early 1900's pieces over the years in silver/sterling with elements of the dragon and decorative flair similar to fleur-de-lis (salt cellars or tazzas).

The one on ebay uses fish/dolphins like you would find in old world/European carvedfurniture for handles and not dragons.  Lesser quality in appearance than yours and is 20" x 11" x 4".

Odd that it uses dragons and french design together...and unmarked.  This reminds me of French pieces done in marble with ormalu add ons or Russian sandstone or malachite items (tazzas, jardinieres).

Without a hands on, would guess this to be a mid/late 1900's decorator item.